What it means
Another gem of 1920s nonsense slang meaning the absolute best, the top of the heap. Bees do not really have notable knees, that is the whole joke, just a silly bouncy phrase that sounds great and means something is first rate. The new restaurant, your gran's roast, that comfy jumper, if it is the bee's knees it is as good as it gets.
Usage examples
"Her new coffee machine is the bee's knees, I want one exactly like it."
"She thinks her new sound system is the bee's knees, plays it far too loud."
"This new coffee machine is the bee's knees, best money I ever spent."
Where it comes from
A piece of joyfully meaningless 1920s slang, the era of daft American animal phrases like the cat's pyjamas. Bees have no knees to speak of, which is rather the point: calling something the bee's knees just means it is the very best, top of the whole heap.
Other ways to say it
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